Sustainability is a complex, multi-faceted concept. At the most basic level, Sustainability is a property of a system which balances 3 pillars: economy, society and environment (these are often known as the “pillars of sustainability”).
Methodologies based on the concept of life-cycle thinking are widely considered the most appropriate tools to quantify the performance of products or organisations in terms of sustainability or each of its pillars. Life cycle thinking implies a holistic view that spans across the full life cycle of products or organisations, from the extraction of materials to the disposal of waste (“cradle to grave”).
Life-cycle based methodologies enable performing the performance of products/organisations as well as identifying key aspects for improvement or improving the brand. We are experts in the application of life-cycle based methodologies:
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A systematic and holistic methodology for assessing the environmental impacts of products (goods and services) and technologies, which is applied according to the requirements of ISO 14040 and14044
Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA): A novel methodology for assessing the socio-economic impacts of products and organisations, applied in line with the latest guidelines from the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative
Life Cycle Costing (LCC): A systematic methodology to quantify the total costs of products (including externalities) incurred over their life cycle.
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA): the most comprehensive evaluation of the sustainability performance that combines LCA, S-LCA and LCC
Footprints are streamlined life-cycle methodologies focused on a specific environmental issue:
Carbon Footprint: Evaluation of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions of products and organisations, applied according to the requirements of ISO 14064 and 14067, PAS 2050/2060 or GHG protocol.
Water Footprint: Evaluation of the impact of water consumption of products and organisations, applied according to the requirements of ISO 14046.